Laying for

Synonyms for laying for
verb lie in wait; attack

assault
trap
surround
waylay
hide
decoy

ensnare
lurk
bushwhack
jump
hook
surprise

assail
entrap
ambuscade
net
wait
jap

box in
dry gulch
hem in
lay for
set trap

Antonyms for laying for

release
liberate

let go
free

Synonyms
verb involve in a situation

entangle
embroil
ensnare
entrap
implicate

snare
hook
incriminate
trammel
snarl

trap
catch
net
tangle
box in

drag into
draw in
lay a trap for
lay for
make party to

Antonyms

disentangle
exclude
liberate

release
free
let go

leave out
uncomplicate

Synonyms
verb capture, involve

entangle
seduce
ensnare
enmesh
entice
implicate
decoy

lure
hook
embroil
inveigle
trick
bag
beguile

allure
trap
tempt
catch
snare
net
set up

benet
box in
lay for
lead on
reel in
rope in
suck in

Antonyms

exclude
disgust
dissuade
release
disentangle

liberate
turn off
disenchant
repulse
let go

lose
discourage
free
clear

Synonyms
verb sneak up on; catch

startle
nab
capture
seize
discover
bushwhack

ambush
take
waylay
grasp
grab
come down on

burst in on
catch in the act
catch off-balance
catch off-guard
catch red-handed
catch unawares

drop in on
lay for
lie in wait
spring on
take by surprise

Antonyms

release
liberate
misunderstand

let go
free
lose

give
offer
expect

Synonyms
verb intercept, ambush

accost
box
skulk
slink
lurk

prowl
bushwhack
jump
attack
surprise

catch
assail
ambuscade
hold up
lay for

lie in wait
pounce on
set upon
swoop down on

Antonyms

allow

forward

Usage Notes

Lay1 and lie2 are often confused. Lay is most commonly a transitive verb and takes an object. Its forms are regular. If “place” or “put” can be substituted in a sentence, a form of lay is called for: Lay the folders on the desk. The mason is laying brick. She laid the baby in the crib. Lay also has many intransitive senses, among them “to lay eggs” (The hens have stopped laying), and it forms many phrasal verbs, such as lay off “to dismiss (from employment)” or “to stop annoying or teasing” and lay over “to make a stop.” Lie, with the overall senses “to be in a horizontal position, recline” and “to rest, remain, be situated, etc.,” is intransitive and takes no object. Its forms are irregular; its past tense form is identical with the present tense or infinitive form of lay: Lie down, children. Abandoned cars were lying along the road. The dog lay in the shade and watched the kittens play. The folders have lain on the desk since yesterday. In all but the most careful, formal speech, forms of lay are commonly heard in senses normally associated with lie. In edited written English such uses of lay are rare and are usually considered nonstandard: Lay down, children. The dog laid in the shade. Abandoned cars were laying along the road. The folders have laid on the desk since yesterday.